Control system



May 19, 1942. c. LENNOX 2,283,741

CONTRQL SYVSTEM Filed April 2, 1941 F'i gJ.

lllllllllll lllllllllm Inventor:

Thomas C. Lennox,

His Attorneg.

Patented .May 19, 1942 met CONTRQE SYSTEM 'riiomsi c. Lennon, ransom, Mass, asslgnor to General Electric Gompany, a corporation oi New York Application April 2,1941, Serial No. 388,507 8 Claims. (01. 171-242) This invention relates to control systems and more particularly to improvements in automatic electrical positioning systems ior motor-driven devices.

Many movable motor-driven devices are adapted to be moved from position to position or from station to station and in most oi these situations it is desirable that the device be accurately positioned at any desired position or station. For example, tap-changing switches should be movable from any tap contact to another tap contact and it is obviously desirable to have the driving mechanism ior the moving contact stop the moving contact quickly and accurately in full contact with the desired tap contact. This invention has been developed pri .marily for controlling the tap-changing switch of a grolund i'ault neutralizer or a so-called Petersen coil. These coils have a high impedance and are connected between ground and the neutral point of an ungrounded polyphase alternating current system; Its iunction is to 1 clear arcing grounds caused by the capacitance current oi the system and it does so by neutralizing the capacitance current by means oi a substantially equal and opposite inductance current. In this manner arcing grounds on ungrounded neutral systems are suppressed. By reason of certain switching operations which take place from time to time the system capacity to ground will often be substantially changed and consequently for full protection it is nec- OFFICE.

Fig. 2 illustrates a modified iorm oi directional responsive control switch.

Reierring now to Fig. 1 oi the accompanying drawing, the movable device is a tap-changing switch I having a movable contact 2 for selectively engaging tap contacts 3 on a Petersen coil 4 connected between ground and the neutral B ci a three-phase system 8. The movable contact is operated by a screw threaded shait "i which is driven by a reversible motor 3 oi the well-known single-phase capacitor type. Geared to the shaft l is an auxiliary shait 9 which makes one revolution ior each complete tap change, that is to say, ior each movement oi the contact 2 from one fixed contact 3 to the next adjacent fixed contact.

For indicating locally the position of the movable contact there is provided a dial indicator it carried by a transverse shait ll geared to the auxiliary shait 8. For giving a remote indication oi the position oi the tap changer there is a remote dial indicator it which is electrically coupled to the shaft II by means oi well-known electrical sch-synchronizing devices comprising a transmitter it and a receiver H, the two being excited with direct current through a rectifier i5 and a step-down transiormer it from a suitable auxiliary supply circuit H.

For giving a more positive indicationthan is given by the indicators l0 and i2 whenever the tap-changing switch is close to or exactly in a essar that the Peterson coil inductance be correspondingly changed and it is ior this reason that the Petersen coil is provided with tapchanging means so that adjustable amounts of coil can be out out oi the circuit.

The invention,-however, is obviously not limited to use with Petersen coils or even with tapwith the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically an embodimentoi the'invention and proper contact-making position a lamp or auxiliary indicator I8 is provided. This indicator is energized by the auxiliary circuit 11 and is controlled by a switch It which is operated by a cam 26 on the shaft. 9. The arrangement is such that the switch it is open for all intermediate pcsitions oi the. tap-changing switch and is closed only when the tap-changing switch is in a proper contact-making position.

For automatically positioning the tap chang- 'ing switch there is provided a directional responsive switching device 2! having two sets oi contacts 22 and 23 respectively. This device is driven by a cam-like member 24 on the shaits and is so arranged that it only changes its position when the tap-changing means passes through a full contact-making position in the opposite direction to that in which it last passed through that position. For example. so long asthe tap-changing switch is moving irom position to position or irom station to station the directional responsive switch 2| will stay in one position and one of its sets oi contacts will remain closed and the other set will remain open.

the reverse direction, in which case the condi I tion of its sets of contacts will reverse and the previously closed sets of contacts will open and the previously open sets of contacts will close. In the simplified schematic arrangement shown in the drawing this is accomplished by a pivotally mounted switch arm 25 having two arms 26 and 2'! between which moves a projection on the cam-like member 24. By means or this arrangement rotation of the cam member 22 in a counterclockwise direction will cause the projection on the member 24 to engage the arm 26, thereby closing the contacts '23' andso long as rotation continues in the same direction nothing further will happen. However, if the direction of rotation 01 the cam member 24 is reversed the projection on this cam'member will engage the arm 21 as soon as the tap-changing switch returns to the full contact-making position it had last passed through whereupon the switch arm will be moved so as to close the contacts 22 and open the contacts 23 and no further change will take place so long as the direction of rotation is not changed.

Th motor 8 is selectively operated in either direction by any suitable means, such as by push button swtches 28 and 29. The switch 28, which for purposes of description will be termed the forward direction control switch, has a set of normally open contacts connected in a circuit 38 for controlling the forward direction of rotation of the motor and similarly push button 29 has a set of normally open contacts connected in a circuit 3| for controlling the reverse direction of operation of the motor 8. These two circuits are energized from the supply circuit ll, the return connection from the motor being by way of conductor 32.

In order to prevent inJury to the apparatus suitable limit switches 33 and 34 are connected respectively in the forward and reverse direction controlling circuits. These switches are normally closed and are actuated by a lever 35 on the transverse shaft ll whenever the taD-changmg switch reaches one or the other of its limits of 7 travel.

The automatic positioning control consists of additional direction controlling circuits for the motor 8 under the respective control of the contacts 22 and 23, the contacts 22 controlling a second forward direction circuit 38 and the contacts 23 controlling a second reverse direction circuit 31, these circuits having the common supply conductor 38 which is completed through serially connected sets of normally closed back contacts on the push button switches 28 and 29.

The operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention is as follows: It will be assumed that the forward direction of rotation of the motor 8 causes the movable contact 2 of the tapchanging switch to move in a downward direction and causes the cam member 24 to turn in a counterclockwise direction. It now it is desired to 23 as soon as the tap-changing switch passes through a full tap contact position. The operator by observing the various indicators can tell when the tap-changing switch has reached the proper tap position. The push button 28 is maintained depressed until after the dial indicators indicate that the proper position has been reached until the lamp I8 lights up indicating that the next tap position is being approached. If then the push button is released a circuit will be completed through the two sets of back contacts in series and through the contacts 23 and the reverse direction circuit 3'! thereby running the motor backwards and reversing the direction of the tap changing switch. As soon as the tap-changing switch reaches exactly the correct position the contacts 28 will open. If the system comes to rest substantially immediately no further operation will take place and the switch will be accurately positioned. If, however, the inertia of the system or any lost motion in the connections should cause the system to overrun and pass beyond motion between the closing of 22 and 23.

the correct position the contacts 22 will close thereby restarting the motor in the forward direction and bringing the movable contact of the switch back toward the proper position. As soon as the proper position is reached the contacts 22 will open. Ordinarily this will be sufiicient to bring the system to rest in the correct position but it will be seen that the system will automatically adjust itself back and forth as much as required until the correct position has been reached, this back and forth operation taking place in what may be described as reverse decrements. The final position will be at random in any position between the closing points of 22 and 23 and the tap changing switch must be so designed as to be safely on position at any point within those limits.

Similarly, if it is desired to decrease the amount of reactance or the Petersen coil the switch 29 may be depressed whereby the tap-changing contact 2 will move upwardly and as soon as the switch 29 is released the movable contact 2 if not on an operating position will be run back to the 'last full contact-making position which it had passed through and will then be positioned by means or the directional responsive switch 2| in the manner previously described.

The cam 28'and switch I! must be so arranged that 19 will be closed only within the range of The same applies to additional contact 0! l9 which may be used to interlock the mechanism with other devices such as a main circuit breaker.

It will be observed that the system described is such that as long as neither 28 nor 29 is depressed, the mechanism cannot rest on any position except in the zone between the closing of 22 and 23 and if it is left in any other position it will run back under the control of 2| to the last such position it had passed through.

It will also be noticed that should primary control switch 28 or 29 be released when the tapchanging means is in exactly the proper contact-making position, the directional responsive switch will automatically cause the mechanism to run back to the last full contact-making position through which the tap changer had passed. Where this is undesirable the directional responsive control switch may be modified as shown in Fig. 2 in which the cam member 24 instead of I having a projection has a recess in which a roller on the pivotedswitch arm 25 fits when the tapchanging mechanism is in full contact-making position. This position is illustrated in the figure and under these conditions the switch is in its intermediate position and both sets of contacts 22 and 23 are open. When the mechanism is operating in one directionthe proper set of contacts 22 or 23 will be held closed at 11 times except when the mechanism is passi through a full contact-making position in which case the contacts will momentarily open and then reclose. Consequently, should the primary control switches 28 or 29 be released when the tap-changing mechanism is in a full contact-making position the mechanism will automatically cometo rest on that tap-changing position and only when the push buttons 28 and 29 are released when the tap-changing mechanism is in an intermediate position will the automatic run back occur. The switch in Fig. 2 has the additional advantage over the directional responsive control switch of Fig. 1 that the contacts are positively maintained closed when the tap-changing means is in its oil positions whereas in the switch of Fig. 1 friction is reliedupon to hold the contacts closed once they have been closed by the cam.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled inv the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention,"

and, therefore, it is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by;

Letters Patent in the United States is:

1. In combination, a movable device having a plurality of stations at anyone of which it is to be accurately positioned, a motor for driving said device, an indicator for signifying which of said stations said device isnearest to, manually actuable means for selectively causing said motor to drive said device in either direction, and means responsive to the release of said manually actuable means when said device is between two stations for automatically reversing said motor and circuits for separately controlling the forward direction of operation or said motor, a pair of parallel circuits for separately controlling the reverse direction of operation of said motor, a manually operable forward push button switch having a pair of normally open contacts connwted in one of said forward direction controlling circuits, a manually operable reverse push button switch having a pair of normally open contacts connected in one-of said reverse direction controlling circuits, said push buttons having normally closed pairs of back contacts serially connected in both of the remaining direction controlling circuits, three-position directional responsive switching means having two sets of contacts one of which is open and the other of which is closed in one of its extreme positions and said one set being closed and said other set being open when it is in the other of its extreme positions and both of which are open in its intermediate position, means for shifting the position of said switching means from one extreme position to the other whenever said movable device passes one of its stations when tively in said remaining direction controlling circults that if either push button is depressed and is subsequently released while said movable device is between stations said motor will automatically be run back until said movable device is running said device back to the last station it has passed, said last-mentioned means including a normally closed double-throw switch for controlling the direction of operation of said motor and being operable from one throw to the other whenever said device returns to thelast' station it has previously passed.

'2. In combination, a movable device having a plurality of stations at any one of which .it is to be accurately positioned, a motor for driving said device, an indicator for signifying which of said stations said device is nearest to, a second indicator for signifying when said device is at any station, manually actuable means for selectively causing said motor to drive said device in either direction, and automatic means responsive to the release of said manually actuable means when said second indicator signifies that said device I has reached or passed a station for positioning said device exactly at such station, said automatic means including a normally closed double-throw switch for controlling the direction of accurately located at the last station which it has passed.

4. In combination, a movable device having a plurality of stations at any one of which it is to be accurately positioned, a motor for driving said device in either direction, indicating means driven by said motor for indicating the location of said device relative to said stations, a pair of parallel circuits for separately controlling the forward direction of operation of said motor, a pair of parallel circuits for separately controlling the reverse direction of operation 0! said motor, a manually operable-forward push button switch having a pair of normally open contacts connected in one oi said forward direction controlling circuits, a manuallyoperable reverse tion controlling circuits, three-position direc-v tional responsive switching means having two sets of contacts one of which is open and the other of which is closed in one of its extreme positions and said one set being closed and said other set being open when it is in the other of its operation of said motor and being operable from one throw to the other whenever said device returns to the last station it has previously passed.

3. In combination, a movable device having a plurality of stations at any one of which it is to be accurately positioned, a motor for driving said device in either direction, a pair of parallel extreme positions and both of which are open in its intermediate position, means for shifting the position of said switching means, from. one extreme position to the other whenever said mov abledevice passes one of its stations when moving in the opposite direction to that in which it last passed said station, said sets of contacts of said switching means being so connected rcspeo tively in said remaining direction controlling circuits that if either push button is depressed and is subsequently released while said movable de= vice is between stations said motor will automatically be run back until said movable device is accurately located at the last station which it has passed.

5. In combination, a movable device having a plurality 01 stations at any one of which it is to be accurately positioned, a motor for driving said device in either direction, a pair of parallel 'circuits for separately controlling the forward "direction of operation ofsaid motor, a pair or parallel circuits for separately controlling the reverse direction of operation of said motor, a manually operable forward push button switch having a pair of normally open contacts connected in one of said forward direction controlling circuits, a manually operable reverse push button switch having a pair of normally open contacts connected in one of said reverse direction controlling circuits, normally closed limit switches which are opened respectively when saiddevice reaches the end of its travel in either direction connected respectively in said last mentioned direction controlling circuits, said push buttons having normally closed pairs of bacl: contacts serially connected in'both or the remaining direction controlling circuits, three position directional responsive switching means having two sets of contacts one oi which is open and the other of which is closed in one of its extreme positions and said one set being closed and said other set being open when it is in the other of its extreme positions and both of which are open in its intermediate position, means for shifting the position of said switching means 'from one extreme position to the other whenever said .movable device passes one of its stations when moving in the opposite direction to that in which it last passed said station, said sets of contacts of said switching means being so connected respectively in said remaining direction controlling circuits that if either push button is depressed and is subsequently released while said movable device is between stations said motor will automatically be run back until said movable device is accurately located at the last station which it has passed.

6. In combination, a multi-position tap-changing switch, a motor for driving said switch in either direction, a pair of parallel circuits for controlling the forward direction of operation of said motor, a pair of parallel circuits for controlling the reverse direction of operation of said motor, a manually operable forward push button switch having a pair of normally open contacts connected in one of said forward direction controlling circuits, a manually operable reverse push button switch having a pair of normally open contacts connected in one of said reverse direction controlling circuit, said push buttons having normally closed pairs of back contacts serially connected in both of the remaining direction controlling circuits, multi-position directional responsive switching means having two sets of contacts one of which is open and the other of which is closed in one of its extreme positions and said one set being-closed and said other set being open when it is in the other of its extreme positions and both of which are open in its intermediate position, means for shifting the position of said switching means Irom one extreme position to the other whenever said tap--changing switch passes through a tap contacting position in the opposite direction to that in which it last passed through a tap contacting position, said sets of contacts of said switching means being so connected respectively in said remaining direction controlling circuits that if either push button is depressed and is subse quently released while said. movable device is be tween stations said motor will automatically be run back until said tap-changing means is accurately located at the last tap contacting position it passed through.

7. In combination, a movable device having a plurality of stations at any one of which it is to be accurately positioned, a motor for driving said device from station to station, primary con-- trol means for selectively energizing said motor for either direction of operation, secondary control means responsive to the cleenergization of said motor by said primary control means for automatically energizing said motor for operation in the opposite direction to that in which. said primary control means last caused it to operate until said device reaches a station, and additional means responsive to said device passing said station in said opposite direction for reversing said motor until said device returns to said station, said secondary control means again reversing said motor if said device again overruns said station whereby said device is automatically positioned accurately at said station in a series of reverse decrements.

8. In combination, a movable device having a plurality of stations at any one of which it is to be accurately'positioned, a motor for driving said device from station to station, separate circuits for controlling respectively the energizetion of said motor in opposite directions, separate sets of contacts for respectively making and breaking said circuits, means responsive to a reversal of said device for opening one set of contacts and closing the other set as soon as said device passes a station, said closing contacts being in the control circuit which causes said device to return to said passed station, additional control circuits for controlling respectively the direction of operation of said motor,- and means responsive to the energization of either of said additional control circuits for open-'circuiting both first-mentioned control circuits.

THOMAS C. LENNOX. 

